Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-20

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The most effective method to ensure sufficient housing in major cities is to construct tall residential buildings. In my opinion, I believe that these apartments can be a key to eradicating housing issues but they tend to be vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.

Tall residential buildings can house significantly more people than a typical bungalow over the same ground area. The apartments can have various floors stacked on top of each other to provide homes for multiple families, hence taking up less space. In contrast, multiple bungalows would have to be laid out in order to provide residence for the same amount of people, eventually requiring a huge area. For instance, a recent study concluded that apartment blocks have the capability to house nearly 10 times the number of people compared to an ordinary cottage or bungalow.

On the other hand, tall apartments can usually be risky during severe weather conditions, since they don't usually have safe evacuation channels and have to seek external help from the authorities. Meanwhile, stand-alone bungalows and cottages have a basement installed in the facility, which can be used to evacuate during hurricanes and tornadoes without requiring external support. Similarly, earthquakes and thunderstorms can prove to be more deadly for tall buildings than a single-storey house. Tall buildings tend to have a weaker structural balance and can collapse relatively easily in the face of an earthquake. As for the thunderstorm, tall apartments are closer to the clouds and hence are more prone to being struck by lightning. This has remained a topic of interest among researchers and engineers in this domain.

To conclude, even though the building of tall apartments remains the most ideal way to overcome residential issues in certain cities, it can put the livelihood of its people at risk.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses the prompt directly, taking a balanced view by acknowledging the space-saving benefits of tall buildings while raising concerns about their safety in severe weather. The position is clear throughout the essay. The first main body paragraph presents a well-supported idea about housing capacity, utilizing an effective comparative example regarding bungalows versus high-rises. The second body paragraph explores the counter-argument regarding weather vulnerabilities, mentioning hurricanes, tornadoes, and lightning. However, some of the supporting claims regarding severe weather are slightly generalized or less substantiated (e.g., the claim that bungalows have basements acting as automatic hurricane shelters). Nonetheless, all parts of the task are addressed and supported adequately, earning a solid Band 6.5 to 7.0 descriptor fit. Overall, the ideas are extended and supported well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct function (introduction, space benefits, weather risks, and conclusion). Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'For instance', 'On the other hand', and 'Similarly' are utilized to guide the reader through the arguments. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional transitional phrases feel slightly formulaic. The overall arrangement is coherent, and the logical flow satisfies the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student displays a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss urban housing and structural engineering topics. Phrases like 'sufficient housing', 'housing issues', 'structural balance', and 'vulnerable to extreme weather conditions' demonstrate effective word choice. Less common lexical items are attempted, such as 'eradicating', 'substantially', and 'prone to being struck'. While there are a few minor lexical slips—such as 'facility' used to refer to a house—the vocabulary is adequate for precision and flexibility, allowing the reader to follow the arguments easily. This aligns well with the Band 7.0 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional or relative clauses such as 'which can be used to evacuate' and 'even though the building of tall apartments remains...'. There is good control over punctuation and sentence boundaries. Although a few minor grammatical awkwardnesses appear, such as the redundant 'In my opinion, I believe that', the majority of sentences are error-free, and grammar does not impede communication. The variety of complex structures and overall control comfortably place this in the Band 7.0 range.

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